Gaming method for playing a slot game with two types of winning criteria, and gaming apparatus for performing the gaming method

ABSTRACT

A gaming method for playing a slot game with two types of winning criteria is provided. The gaming method is adapted to be implemented by a gaming apparatus. The gaming apparatus is configured to randomly generate a game symbol combination that includes a plurality of game symbols. Each of the game symbols independently belongs to one of a predetermined number of game symbol types. A first winning criterion is that a total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination that belong to the same game symbol type is greater than a predetermined number. A second winning criterion is that all of the game symbols on a specified payout line of the game symbol combination belong to the same game symbol type.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 098123390, filed on Jul. 10, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a gaming method for playing a slot game, more particularly to a gaming method for playing a slot game with two types of winning criteria.

2. Description of the Related Art

Currently, most casinos are provided with slot machines. Since rules and gaming procedure of a slot game are quite simple, many casino guests prefer to play with the slot machines.

A conventional slot machine generates a game symbol combination including a plurality of game symbols at the end of one round of a slot game. When the game symbol combination conforms with a predetermined winning criterion, the conventional slot machine will grant an award to the player. Such predetermined winning criterion is generally that all of the game symbols on a specified payout line of the game symbol combination belong to the same game symbol type.

Development of related technology arose in an electronic slot machine that includes a game processor operable to control the electronic slot machine for playing a slot game. However, both the conventional and electronic slot machines follow the above-mentioned winning criterion, and the player may lose interest in the slot game after several rounds. Therefore, player interest may be sustained in a slot game that provides different types of winning criteria.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming method for playing a slot game with two types of winning criteria.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming method for playing a slot game adapted to be implemented by a gaming apparatus that includes a display system, an input unit, and a control system coupled to the display system and the input unit. The gaming method comprises the steps of:

a) configuring the control system to randomly generate a game symbol combination that includes a plurality of game symbols in response to a user input from the input unit for starting a slot game, and to enable the display system to display the game symbol combination thereon, each of the game symbols independently belonging to one of a predetermined number of game symbol types;

b) configuring the control system to determine whether the game symbol combination generated in step a) conforms with a first winning criterion and a second winning criterion,

the first winning criterion being a total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination that belong to the same game symbol type is greater than a predetermined number,

the second winning criterion being all of the game symbols on a specified payout line of the game symbol combination belong to the same game symbol type;

c) configuring the control system to determine first award information when the game symbol combination conforms with the first winning criterion, and second award information when the game symbol combination conforms with the second winning criterion; and

d) configuring the control system to grant an award according to the first and second award information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program product comprising a machine readable storage medium that comprises program instructions for configuring a computer to perform consecutive steps of a gaming method for playing a slot game. The gaming method comprises the steps of:

a) configuring the computer to randomly generate a game symbol combination that includes a plurality of game symbols in response to a user input for starting a slot game, and to display the game symbol combination, each of the game symbols independently belonging to one of a predetermined number of game symbol types;

b) configuring the computer to determine whether the game symbol combination generated in step a) conforms with a first winning criterion and a second winning criterion,

the first winning criterion being a total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination that belong to the same game symbol type is greater than a predetermined number,

the second winning criterion being all of the game symbols on a specified payout line of the game symbol combination belong to the same game symbol type;

c) configuring the computer to determine first award information when the game symbol combination conforms with the first winning criterion, and second award information when the game symbol combination conforms with the second winning criterion; and

d) configuring the computer to grant an award according to the first and second award information.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a gaming apparatus comprises an input unit, a display system, and a control system coupled to the input unit and the display system.

The control system is operable to execute a gaming method for playing a slot game. The gaming method includes the steps of:

a) randomly generating a game symbol combination that includes a plurality of game symbols in response to a user input received from the input unit, and enabling the display system to display the game symbol combination thereon, each of the game symbols independently belonging to one of a predetermined number of game symbol types;

b) determining whether the game symbol combination generated in step a) conforms with a first winning criterion and a second winning criterion,

the first winning criterion being a total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination that belong to the same game symbol type is greater than a predetermined number,

the second winning criterion being all of the game symbols on a specified payout line of the game symbol combination belong to the same game symbol type;

c) determining first award information when the game symbol combination conforms with the first winning criterion, and second award information when the game symbol combination conforms with the second winning criterion; and

d) granting an award according to the first and second award information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a first preferred embodiment of a gaming apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the gaming apparatus of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a gaming method for playing a slot game implemented by the gaming apparatus of the first preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a control system of a second preferred embodiment of a gaming apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first preferred embodiment of a gaming apparatus 1 of the present invention includes a machine body 10, a control system 2 disposed in the machine body 10, a display system 3, and an input unit 4.

The display system 3 includes a display screen 30 mounted on a top portion of a front side of the machine body 10, and a display controller 31 coupled to the control system 2. The input unit 4 is also mounted on the machine body 10 under the display screen 30, and includes a start button 42, a stop button 43, and a payout button 44 that are coupled to the control system 2. The machine body 10 is provided with a payment mechanism, e.g., a coin slot 11 in this embodiment, and a payout mechanism 15. The input unit 4 further includes a payment sensor 41 disposed adjacent to the coin slot 11. The payment sensor 41 is coupled to the control system 2 and is operable to send a payment signal thereto when a player makes a payment through the coin slot 11. The gaming apparatus 1 further includes a payout controller 45 coupled to the control system 2 and operable to drive the payout mechanism 15. It should be noted that configuration and appearance of the gaming apparatus 1 of this embodiment as described above and depicted in the drawings are for illustrative purpose only, and should not be limited to the disclosure of this embodiment.

The control system 2 includes a game processor 20, a storage medium 21 coupled to the game processor 20, and a memory device 22 coupled, to the game processor 20. In this embodiment, the storage medium 21 is a read-only memory (ROM) storing program instructions for playing a slot game. The memory device 22 is a random-access memory (RAM) adapted for storing data and information generated during the slot game. The start button 42 is operable to trigger the game processor 20 to execute a gaming method for playing the slot game, and the payout button 44 is coupled to the game processor 20 and operable to trigger the game processor 20 to grant an award. When the program instructions are executed, the game processor 21 is operable to perform consecutive steps of the gaming method. Details of the gaming method will be described in the following with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

In step (S₁₁), the player is allowed to place a bet on a round of the slot game by dropping coins or tokens through the coin slot 11. The payment sensor 41 is operable to send the payment signal to the game processor 20 when the player drops the coins or tokens through the coin slot 11. In response to the payment signal, the game processor 20 executes the program instructions stored in the storage medium 21. The game processor 20 is further operable to determine a bet amount on the round of the slot game according to the payment signal, and store the bet amount in the memory device 22.

In step (S₁₂), the player is allowed to input a start command for starting the round of the slot game through the start button 42. The player is allowed to continue increasing the bet amount before inputting the start command. If the player drops other coins or tokens after the round of the slot game begins, the payment sensor 41 will not generate the payment signal, and the coins or tokens dropped by the player at this time are directly returned through the payout mechanism 15.

In step (S₁₃), in response to the start command from the start button 42, the game processor 20 controls the display controller 31 to enable the display screen 30 to show an animation of rotating reels, and randomly generates a game symbol combination that includes a plurality of game symbols. Subsequently, the game processor 20 stores the game symbol combination in the memory device 22. Each of the game symbols independently belongs to one of a predetermined number of game symbol types. In this embodiment, the game symbol combination is, but not limited to, a 5×3 matrix with fifteen game symbols, i.e., the game symbol combination includes five reels, each of which shows three independent game symbols.

In practice, the game symbol combination is generated according to a game symbol ordering rule, in which the game symbols in the game symbol combination are randomly selected from a pool of candidate game symbols belonging to different ones of the game symbol types, and are arranged in an array. For example, the candidate game symbols in the pool belong to four different game symbol types, such as ◯, □, ⋄ and ⋆, and the numbers of the candidate game symbols belonging to each of the game symbol types are 12, 12, 8 and 5, respectively. Alternatively, other game symbol ordering rules can be utilized. For instance, each of the five reels of the game symbol combination includes twelve game symbols, three of those game symbols on each real are visible on the display screen 30, and each of the reels randomly and independently rotates to show the visible three of the game symbols on the display screen 30 to generate the 5×3 game symbol combination. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the disclosed game symbol ordering rule and the game symbol types.

In step (S₁₄), the player is allowed to input a stop command for gradually stopping rotation of the reels through the stop button 43. In response to the stop command from the stop button 43, the game processor 20 controls the display controller 31 to enable the display screen 30 to display the game symbol combination thereon in step (S₁₅). In other embodiments, the stop button 43 can be omitted, and the game processor 20 can be configured to automatically implement steps (S₁₄) and (S₁₅) after a predetermined time from receipt of the start command in step (S₁₂).

In step (S₁₆), the game processor 20 is operable to determine whether the game symbol combination displayed in step (S₁₅) conforms with a first winning criterion. In this embodiment, the first winning criterion is that a total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination that belong to the same game symbol type is greater than a predetermined number, such as 8. The game processor 20 is operable to determine a total number of the game symbols belonging to each of the game symbol types in the game symbol combination displayed in step (S₁₅). The flow goes to step (S₁₇) when the determination made in step (S₁₆) is affirmative, and goes to step (S₁₉) when otherwise.

The game processor 20 is operable to determine first award information including an award amount in step (S₁₇), and to store the first award information in the memory device 22 in step (S₁₈). The award amount of the first award information is dependent on a payout multiplier of the game symbol type having the total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination belonging thereto greater than the predetermined number, and the total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination belonging to the same game symbol type. For example, the award amount is 1.2 times of the bet amount placed by the player when eight of the game symbols in the game symbol combination belong to the game symbol type ◯ or , □, 1.4 times when nine, 1.6 times when ten, 1.8 times when eleven, and 2 times when twelve. Moreover, since only eight of the candidate game symbols in the pool belong to the game symbol type ⋄, the award amount is 2 times of the bet amount when eight of the game symbols in the game symbol combination belong to the game symbol type ⋄. It should be noted that the above-mentioned rule for determining the award amount of the first award information is for exemplary purpose only, and should not be limited to the disclosure of this embodiment.

In step (S₁₉), the game processor 20 is operable to determine whether the game symbol combination displayed in step (S₁₅) conforms with a second winning criterion. In this embodiment, the second winning criterion is that all of the game symbols on a specified payout line of the game symbol combination belong to the same game symbol type. Particularly, the game symbol combination includes an upper payout line, a middle payout line, and a lower payout line. The game processor 20 is operable to determine the game symbol types of the game symbols on each of the upper, middle and lower payout lines of the game symbol combination displayed in step (S₁₅). The flow goes to step (S₂₀) when all of the game symbols on any one of the payout lines belong to the same game symbol, and goes to step (S₂₂) when otherwise.

The game processor 20 is operable to determine second award information including an award amount in step (S₂₀), and to store the second award information in the memory device 22 in step (S₂₁). In this embodiment, each of the upper, middle and lower payout lines has a corresponding payout multiplier, and the award amount of the second award information is dependent on the payout multiplier of one of the upper, middle and lower payout lines that has all of the game symbols thereon belonging to the same game symbol type. For example, the award amount is 1.5 times of the bet amount placed by the player when all of the game symbols on the upper or lower payout line of the game symbol combination belong to the same game symbol type, and is 2 times of the bet amount when all of the game symbols on the middle payout line belong to the same game symbol type. Moreover, when all of the game symbols on each of the upper, middle and lower payout lines belong to the same game symbol type, the award amount is 5 times of the bet amount. It should be noted that the above-mentioned rule for determining the award amount of the second award information is for exemplary purpose only, and should not be limited to the disclosure of this embodiment. Further, the order of steps (S₁₆) to (S₁₈) and steps (S₁₉) to (S₂₁) can be interchanged, i.e., steps (S₁₉) to (S₂₁) are implemented before steps (S₁₆) to (S₁₈). Steps (S₁₆) to (S₁₈) and steps (S₁₉) to (S₂₁) can also be implemented simultaneously.

Therefore, in step (S₂₂), the game processor 20 is operable to determine an award according to the first and second award information stored in the memory device 22 in steps (S₁₈) and (S₂₁), respectively. Inparticular, the award is determined based upon a sum of the award amounts of the first and second award information.

In step (S₂₃), the game processor 20 controls the display controller 31 to drive the display screen 20 to display an image for prompting the player to request payout of the award. The player can press the payout button 44 to trigger the game processor 20 to control the payout controller 45 to enable the payout mechanism 15 to grant the award. Moreover, when the player does not press the payout button 44 after a predetermined time, the game processor 20 can be configured to automatically control the payout controller 45 to enable the payout mechanism 15 to grant the award. After granting the award, the first and second award information stored in the memory device 22 are deleted, and the current round of the slot game is completed.

Further, when the player requests non-payout of the award by pressing the stop button 43 with the predetermined time, the flow goes to step (S₂₄) for displaying an image on the display screen 30 notifying the player to place another bet on the next round of the slot game. In other embodiments, an additional button can be provided instead of the stop button 43 for such purpose. Then, the flow goes back to step (S₁₁). At this time, the first and second award information are still stored in the memory device 22. The player can use the award that the player gained in the prior round, or drops more coins or tokens to place another bet on the next round.

Referring to FIG. 4, a control system 2 of a second preferred embodiment of the gaming apparatus 1 of this invention includes a selecting module 23, a first analyzing module 24, a second analyzing module 25, and an award-determining module 26. The selecting module 23 is operable to randomly generate the game symbol combination.

The first analyzing module 24 includes a counter 241, a register 242, a first comparator 243, and a first award determining unit 244. The counter 241 is coupled to the selecting module 23, and is operable to determine the total number of the game symbols belonging to each of the game symbol types in the game symbol combination generated by the selecting module 23 and displayed by the display system (shown in FIG. 2). The register 242 stores the predetermined number. The first comparator 243 is coupled to the counter 241 and the register 242, and is operable to compare the predetermined number with the total number of the game symbols belonging to each of the game symbol types in the game symbol combination displayed by the display system. The first comparator 243 generates a first notifying signal when the total number of the game symbols belonging to any one of the game symbol types in the game symbol combination is greater than the predetermined number. The first award determining unit 244 is coupled to the first comparator 243 for receiving the first notifying signal therefrom, and stores a first lookup table containing a plurality of entries of the first award information. The first award determining unit 244 outputs one of the entries of the first award information according to the first notifying signal.

The second analyzing module 25 includes a selector 251, a second comparator 252, and a second award determining unit 253. The selector 251 is coupled to the selecting module 23, and is operable to determine the game symbol types of the game symbols on each one of the upper, middle and lower payout lines the game symbol combination displayed by the display system. The second comparator 252 is coupled to the selector 251 for comparing the game symbol types determined by the selector 251, and is configured to generate a second notifying signal when the game symbol types are identical to each other. The second award determining unit 253 is coupled to the second comparator 252 for receiving the second notifying signal therefrom, and stores a second lookup table containing a plurality of entries of the second award information. The second award determining unit 253 outputs one of the entries of the second award information according to the second notifying signal.

The award-determining module 26 is coupled to the first and second award determining units 244 and 253, and is operable to determine the award to be granted based upon the first and second award information from the first and second award determining units 244 and 253.

In summary, the gaming apparatus 1 of the present invention performs the gaming method for playing the slot game with two winning criteria by executing the program instructions stored in the storage medium 21 (shown in FIG. 2), or by using the hardware control system 2 as shown in FIG. 4. As a result, the slot game performed by the gaming apparatus 1 keeps the simple rules of a conventional slot game while enhancing interest of the player in the slot game by providing different types of winning criteria.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A gaming method for playing a slot game, said gaming method being adapted to be implemented by a gaming apparatus that includes a display system, an input unit, and a control system coupled to the display system and the input unit, said gaming method comprising the steps of: a) configuring the control system to randomly generate a game symbol combination that includes a plurality of game symbols in response to a user input from the input unit for starting a slot game, and to enable the display system to display the game symbol combination thereon, each of the game symbols independently belonging to one of a predetermined number of game symbol types; b) configuring the control system to determine whether the game symbol combination generated in step a) conforms with a first winning criterion and a second winning criterion, the first winning criterion being a total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination that belong to the same game symbol type is greater than a predetermined number, the second winning criterion being all of the game symbols on a specified payout line of the game symbol combination belong to the same game symbol type; c) configuring the control system to determine first award information when the game symbol combination conforms with the first winning criterion, and second award information when the game symbol combination conforms with the second winning criterion; and d) configuring the control system to grant an award according to the first and second award information.
 2. The gaming method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in step a), the game symbol combination is generated according to a game symbol ordering rule, in which the game symbols in the game symbol combination are randomly selected from a pool of candidate game symbols belonging to different ones of the game symbol types, and are arranged in an array.
 3. The gaming method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in step c), the first award information includes an award amount that is dependent on a payout multiplier of the game symbol type having the total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination belonging thereto greater than the predetermined number.
 4. The gaming method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in step c), the first award information includes an award amount that is dependent on the total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination belonging to the same game symbol type.
 5. The gaming method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in step c), the second award information includes an award amount that is dependent on a payout multiplier of the specified payout line that has all of the game symbols thereon belonging to the same game symbol type.
 6. A computer program product comprising a machine readable storage medium that comprises program instructions for configuring a computer to perform consecutive steps of a gaming method for playing a slot game, said gaming method comprising the steps of: a) configuring the computer to randomly generate a game symbol combination that includes a plurality of game symbols in response to a user input for starting a slot game, and to display the game symbol combination, each of the game symbols independently belonging to one of a predetermined number of game symbol types; b) configuring the computer to determine whether the game symbol combination generated in step a) conforms with a first winning criterion and a second winning criterion, the first winning criterion being a total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination that belong to the same game symbol type is greater than a predetermined number, the second winning criterion being all of the game symbols on a specified payout line of the game symbol combination belong to the same game symbol type; c) configuring the computer to determine first award information when the game symbol combination conforms with the first winning criterion, and second award information when the game symbol combination conforms with the second winning criterion; and d) configuring the computer to grant an award according to the first and second award information.
 7. The computer program product as claimed in claim 6, wherein, in step a), the game symbol combination is generated according to a game symbol ordering rule, in which the game symbols in the game symbol combination are randomly selected from a pool of candidate game symbols belonging to different ones of the game symbol types, and are arranged in an array.
 8. The computer program product as claimed in claim 6, wherein, in step c), the first award information includes an award amount that is dependent on a payout multiplier of the game symbol type having the total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination belonging thereto greater than the predetermined number.
 9. The computer program product as claimed in claim 6, wherein, in step c), the first award information includes an award amount that is dependent on the total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination belonging to the same game symbol type.
 10. The computer program product as claimed in claim 6, wherein, in step c), the second award information includes an award amount that is dependent on a payout multiplier of the specified payout line that has all of the game symbols thereon belonging to the same game symbol type.
 11. A gaming apparatus comprising: an input unit; a display system; and a control system coupled to said input unit and said display system; wherein said control system is operable to execute a gaming method for playing a slot game, the gaming method including the steps of: a) randomly generating a game symbol combination that includes a plurality of game symbols in response to a user input received from said input unit, and enabling said display system to display the game symbol combination thereon, each of the game symbols independently belonging to one of a predetermined number of game symbol types; b) determining whether the game symbol combination generated in step a) conforms with a first winning criterion and a second winning criterion, the first winning criterion being a total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination that belong to the same game symbol type is greater than a predetermined number, the second winning criterion being all of the game symbols on a specified payout line of the game symbol combination belong to the same game symbol type; c) determining first award information when the game symbol combination conforms with the first winning criterion, and second award information when the game symbol combination conforms with the second winning criterion; and d) granting an award according to the first and second award information.
 12. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein, in step a) of the gaming method, the game symbol combination is generated according to a game symbol ordering rule, in which the game symbols in the game symbol combination are randomly selected from a pool of candidate game symbols belonging to different ones of the game symbol types, and are arranged in an array.
 13. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein, in step c) of the gaming method, the first award information includes an award amount that is dependent on a payout multiplier of the game symbol type having the total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination belonging thereto greater than the predetermined number.
 14. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein, in step c) of the gaming method, the first award information includes an award amount that is dependent on the total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination belonging to the same game symbol type.
 15. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein, in step c) of the gaming method, the second award information includes an award amount that is dependent on a payout multiplier of the specified payout line that has all of the game symbols thereon belonging to the same game symbol type.
 16. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said input unit includes a start button operable to trigger said control system to execute the gaming method.
 17. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a payment mechanism, and a payment sensor coupled to said control system and operable to send a payment signal thereto when a player makes a payment through said payment mechanism, said control system accepting triggering by said start button to execute the gaming method only after receipt of the payment signal.
 18. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said display system includes a display controller coupled to said control system, and a display device coupled to and driven by said display controller.
 19. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said control system includes a game processor, and a storage medium coupled to said game processor and storing program instructions for configuring said game processor to execute the gaming method for playing the slot game.
 20. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said control system includes: a selecting module operable to randomly generate the game symbol combination; a first analyzing module operable to determine whether the game symbol combination conforms with the first winning criterion, and to determine the first award information when the game symbol combination conforms with the first winning criterion; a second analyzing module operable to determine whether the game symbol combination conforms with the second winning criterion, and to determine the second award information when the game symbol combination conforms with the second winning criterion; and an award-determining module coupled to said first and second analyzing modules, and operable to determine the award to be granted based upon the first and second award information from said first and second analyzing modules.
 21. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said first analyzing module includes: a counter coupled to said selecting module and operable to determine a total number of the game symbols belonging to each of the game symbol types in the game symbol combination generated by said selecting module; a register storing the predetermined number; a comparator coupled to said counter and said register, and operable to compare the predetermined number with the total number of the game symbols belonging to each of the game symbol types in the game symbol combination, said comparator generating a first notifying signal when the total number of the game symbols belonging to any one of the game symbol types in the game symbol combination is greater than the predetermined number; and a first award determining unit coupled to said comparator for receiving the first notifying signal therefrom, storing a first lookup table containing a plurality of entries of the first award information, and outputting one of the entries of the first award information according to the first notifying signal.
 22. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said second analyzing module includes: a selector coupled to said selecting module, and operable to determine the game symbol types of the game symbols on the specified payout line; a comparator coupled to said selector for comparing the game symbol types determined by said selector, and configured to generate a second notifying signal when the game symbol types are identical to each other; and a second award determining unit coupled to said comparator for receiving the second notifying signal therefrom, storing a second lookup table containing a plurality of entries of the second award information, and outputting one of the entries of the second award information according to the second notifying signal.
 23. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said input unit includes a payout button coupled to said control system and operable to trigger said control system to grant the award. 